Foundation garment



June 14, 1966 G. H. WEEKS FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 15, 1964 R 2 m T x mm mm a W United States Patent 3,255,755 FOUNDATION GARMENT Gladys H. Weeks, 250 Crescent, San Bernardino, Calif. Filed June 15, 1964, Ser. No. 375,031 1 Claim. (Cl. 128530) The present invention relates to foundation garments of the type that extend around the waist and over the hips and upper portions of the thighs, and in particular a garment fitted over the hips of a wearer and having overlapping flaps at the front to support the bulge and obtain a smooth neat figure.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a foundation garment that fits snugly around the lower portion of the waist and retains flesh at the'hips within the confines of a comparatively lithe body.

Various types of foundation garments, girdles, and bands have been provided for holding in the bulge around the lower portion of the torso and hips. However, particularly in warm weather, such garments, or bands, are very uncomfortable. Furthermore, garments of this type that are of sufiicient thickness to be effective, are difficult to apply and remove.

With these thoughts in mind this invention contemplates a foundation garment of novel construction and which is relatively small so that it may be used with comparatively thin clothing without detection.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide a foundation garment of the split type which may be readily applied over the waist and hips of the wearer without being pulled upwardly over the legs.

Another object of the invention is to provide a foundation garment which is of comparatively light weight.

A further object of the invention is to provide a foundation garment of the wrap .around type in which portions thereof fasten between the legs and at the front so that the fastening elements are substantially invisible.

A still further object is to provide a foundation garment of such design that it is not necessary to move the garment upwardly and downwardly to facilitate toilette functions.

And a still further-object is to provide an improved foundation garment which is of simple and economical construction.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the illustrations of the drawings as the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a method by which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the present invention and the purview of the appended claims.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a strip of material having an opening through the center with wings extended from the sides and positioned to overlap at the front and with bands also extended at the sides and positioned to overlap around the legs.

Other features and advantages of the invention will' appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view illustrating the use of a foundation garment on a person with one of the flaps at the front of the garment in the open position.

FIGURE 2 is a rear view of the foundation garment showing the opening in the back of the garment.

FIGURE 3 is a view showing a pattern from which the garment is formed.

Patented June 14, 1966 FIGURE 4 is a front elevational view of the garment with the parts in closed positions and with parts secured in such positions by fasteners.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilizedto the best advantages according to circumstances which may arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claims. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings, and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout and in which the numeral 10 indicates a sheet of material, preferably elastic material having a center opening 11 with wings 12 and 13 extended from upper corners thereof and with bands 14 and 15 connected to lower corners thereof by sections 16 and 17.

The central portion 18 of the sheet of material is placed across the lower portion of the back of an individual wearing the garment with the wings 12 and 13 wrapped around the sides and across the front, as shown in FIGURE 1, wherein the wing 13 is positioned to overlap the wing 12; and with the band 14 positioned to extend around the thigh 19 of one leg and the band 15 around the thigh 20 of the other leg. By this means ends 21 and 22 of the band 14 meet and overlap slightly on the inside of the thigh 19 and corresponding ends 23 and 24 of the band 15 meet and also overlap slightly on the inner side of the thigh 20.

The edge of the wing 13 is provided with suitable fastening means 25, such as adhesive tape or Velcro Tape Fastener and the tape is positioned to register with complemental fastener tape 26 disposed on the outer surface of the waist-encircling band of the wing 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The wing 12 is provided with similar fastening means 27 secured to the end thereof that is positioned to register with complemental tape or coupling means 28 disposed on the inner side of the waist-encircling band, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. Similar fastening elements are provided on the edges of the bands 14 and 15 as indicated by the numerals 29 and 30 of the band 14 and 31 and 32 of the band 15. The fastening elements may also be made of different material or formed in different designs.

FIGURE 4 shows a modification wherein the parts are secured by snap fasteners or hooks and eyes 33 which are positioned on tapes 34 and 35 of bands 36 and 37 of a garment having wings 38 and 39 extended from a rear portion 40.

With the foundation garment extended around the lower portion of the waist and over the upper ends of the thighs the roll of flesh of the lower end of the abdomen may be held flush with the body so that a neat and attractive appearance of a person wearing the garment is obtained. The person wearing the garment may also attend to her toilette requirements without removing the garment.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that a foundation garment constructed in accordance with this invention is particularly well adapted for use, by reason of the convenience and facility with which it may be assembled and applied, and it will also be obvious that the invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason it is not desired to be 3,255,755 3 4 limited to the precise arrangement and formation of the thereto at points midway of the length of said leg several parts herein shown in carrying out the invention bands, in practice, except as claimed. (d) fastening means on inner ends of said leg bands,

What is claimed is:

(e) and positioned to coact with corresponding fast- A foundation garment comprising 5 ening elements on outer ends of said leg bands, (2.) a waist-encircling band having overlapping wings (f) the outer ends of said wings and leg bands being atopposite ends thereof, notched to separate upper and lower portions'of (b) fastening means on said waist-encircling band for these elements whereby the upper portions are arsecuring the band around the waist of an individual ranged to form the wings and the lower portions the including complemental releasably engageable first 10 g bands and second coupling components, the first coupling components including fastening means secured to References C'ted by the Exammer each end of said band, the second coupling compo- UNITED STATES PATENTS nents including fastener strips secured to and trans 1 507 40 9 1924 Woods 12 525 versely disposed on opposite faces of said band, 15 2,312,632 3/1943 D 123 525 X (c) leg-encircling bands, the upper edges of which are 2,424,698 7/1947 Lewis 128-525 integrally connected to the lower edge of the waist band, depending from said waistband, and connected ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

